National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 5, 2011
Washington, DC – The National Transportation Safety Board
today issued two safety recommendations to the Federal
Aviation Administration requiring a detailed inspection of
all emergency locator transmitters (ELT) installed on
general aviation aircraft to ensure that their mountings
maintain their retention capabilities during an accident
sequence.
An ELT is designed to broadcast a signal through an
externally mounted antenna that contains the aircraft’s
registration information and the global positioning system
coordinates of the original signal. Also, the “homing
signal” can be detected locally by other aircraft, air
traffic control facilities, or rescue personnel who use a
compatible receiver.
“In this case, the airplane was equipped with a functioning
406 megahertz ELT, which can be a tremendous aid to search
and rescue operations,” said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P.
Hersman. “But this vital life-saving technology won’t do
anyone any good if it doesn’t stay connected to the
antenna.”
On August 9, 2010, a de Havilland turbine Otter airplane
crashed in mountainous tree-covered terrain approximately 10
miles from Aleknagik, Alaska. Nearly five hours after the
crash, volunteer airborne search personnel located the
aircraft approximately 19 miles from where the flight
originated. The pilot and four passengers, including former
U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, sustained fatal injuries. The
other four passengers were seriously injured.
Aircraft involved in the search and rescue efforts and
satellites did not detect any ELT signals. Following the
discovery of the airplane, a pararescuer found the ELT loose
on the floor of the airplane. The ELT had activated but had
separated from its mounting bracket and antenna.
